Koi no Kensaku/Episode 2

{{Episode-nav|prev = Episode 1}|prething = Episode|nextthing = Episode|next = Episode 3}}Friend Request (フレンドリクエスト, FURENDORIKUESUTO) is the second episode of Koi no Kensaku.

Characters

 * Chigusa Hanami
 * Okada Ayaka
 * Hayate
 * Mr. Yamaguchi
 * Kobi (cameo)
 * Moeka (cameo)

Transcript
Episode 02 - Friend Request

It’s been only a few days since Hanami and her mother were told the news. Her mother was grieving while Hanami sulked. She was rarely seen out of her room. Her mother didn’t bother getting her up for school cause it was too hard for her to even look at Hanami.

Her mother knocked on Hanami’s door, but no one answered. She entered anyways to see a messy rooms with tissues traced all over the bed and on the ground, torn up paper everywhere, Hanami’s phone in the midst of the tangled covers, and soaked pillows with Hanami smelling the saltiness.

“Sweetie,” She mumbled quietly, hoping her daughter could hear her. “I know it’s… tough. Are you feeling okay?” Hanami moved a bit, gesturing a shrug. “Today’s Tuesday. Sweetie, I think it’s time. You’ve already missed a lot of school work. You have to go.” “Does it matter?” Her mother stuttered answering the question. “A-anything could happen. Maybe-” “That’s the thing. “Maybe” is a word you question. It could mean “Yes” or “No”, and that’s how life is. You really can’t fuss about it. Life isn’t fair.” Hanami stated. “J-just… get up. Enjoy yourself. Be with your friends.” She left the door cracked. Hanami got up and looked at the door. “Like I have any to cry on..”

Just like her mother told her, she got up and got ready for school. She was a little sluggish, but Hanami was eventually out of the door to the house. She took a deep breath before leaving the porch.

As she walked through the halls, she saw familiar faces. Hanami instantly locked her eyes on her dream guy. She mumbled “Hayate” in a lovingly way. She then saw Ayaka, her nemesis, approach him with Kobi and Moeka. They laughed, confusing Hanami. She eventually made her way to her first class.

When she walked in, everyone just stared at her. Hanami became frozen, beginning to hear all the insults coming out of everyone’s mouth, especially Ayaka’s. Although, as she made her way to her seat-

“Look who's back. Where have you been? Scared to get a gigantic red ball stuck to your face?” Ayaka mocked Hanami. Someone tapped on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t listen to her. But seriously, you all right? You kinda got me curious when you left gym and didn’t come back that whole week.” “I’m… somehow okay.” She lied, holding back her tears. She was about to speak until her teacher interrupted the conversation. “Alright class-” He spotted Hanami. “Well looks who’s back. How was your break?” Hanami wanted to slap the teacher across his face about a gazillion times, but she knew how much trouble she would be in even more. “It was all right.” “Well I’m glad you came back. You have lots of work to do. I assume your going to do Summer School?” Hanami shrugged. “To be honest, I don’t think so.” “Hmph!” He suddenly mumbled. “Your lost.” Hanami heard him, and was about to go up and slap the ignorance out of Yamaguchi, but she knew what would be the conscience. However, it didn’t matter. Hanami wasn’t going to live forever; or at least live to finish high school. Yamaguchi eventually had to go and copy some papers. He told everyone to work in their book, but the class just talked. Some students sat on their desk, others started to stand and stretch.

Ayaka was probably the loudest, at least to Hanami. “And so I told the the lady “If you don’t get me me my food RIGHT NOW, I will sue!”.” The girls surrounding her laughed. Hanami rolled her eyes, and laid them on Hayate instead. She put her head in her palm and thought of his precious eyes. Suddenly, Hayate walked over to Hanami.

“Hey.” “H-hi.” “How’ve you been?” “Um, okay I guess.” “That’s good.” Their conversation became silent. But it wasn’t long until boy soon broke it. “Hey.. there’s been some rumors about you. I just wanted to know if they’re true..” “Good or bad?” “You tell me.” He gulped. “Do you have… cancer or something?” Hanami’s eyes widened. “N-no. Why would you say that?” “I don’t know. I just heard some rumours and.. A-All I wanted to know is if you were okay. We’re friends, right?” He touched Hanami’s hand. Inside her mind, she squealed. “O-of… c-” Ayaka spotted the two holding hands, and walked over to the “friends”. “Hi Hayate. Hey, cancer.” You could see jealousy in her eyes, as well as anger. “Yep, that’s my zodiac. Congratz.” Hanami clapped, leaving Ayaka lost for words. “Excuse me!? Now you listen here, mi-” “Cool it, Ayaka. It’s not nice to say those kinds things so stop. I thought you knew better.” Ayaka began to stare into Hayate’s eyes. “Oh, I’m so so sorry! I didn’t mean to, something came over me.” “You shouldn’t be apologizing to me.” “It’s fine, Hay-” “I’m sooooooooo super-duper sorry, cancer..!” She mumbled the last word. “And to tell you the truth, I don’t have cancer.” “Then what do you have? Milly, my nerd, was at the doctor’s office. She saw you there. You and your mother were in tears.” Hanami began to open her mouth and stuttered. “I-I-I… don’t know what your talking about-” “Oh don’t play dumb, tubbles! You can tell me. Aren’t we friends?” She made a puppy-eyed face. Hanami looked over to Hayate who also had the same expression, but in a different way that always made Hanami’s heart drop. As much as she regretted this, “S-suuuuuuuurrrreeeeee.” “Then you won’t mind me joining the manga club.” “Y-you?!” Hanami and Hayate both said in unison. The boy jumped out of his chair. “You sure?” “Yep, anything for my two best friends!” She smiled. “We can hangout more.” “But you two have like 5 classes together.” A girl behind her said. “Doesn’t matter; we can see each other more often.” “How did you..” Hanami began her sentence until the devil herself interrupted her. “Nothing but a little money can persuade the school for me to move classes.” “No wonder you have so many classes with Hayate..” Hanami mumbled back. “Excuse me-” “This is great!” Hayate interrupted. “Having fun with my two best girls!” “B-best girls?” The two young ladies spoke. “Yeah, like, girlfriends. Except, you guys are only my friends.” The two of them dropped to the ground. Although they have just been friendzoned, they didn’t care. Hayate called them his “girlfriends”. Ayaka was the first to get up. “Great! But I-” “Okay, class, I am back with your quizzes. Miss. Chigusa, I’d like for you to see me after class.” Yamazaki came in, closing the door signaling everyone should sit back down.

A few periods pass and soon came Manga club. As Hanami walked in, she saw Ayaka talking with Hayate and others. She made her way to her desk in the corner, near the blue couch in the back of the room. The others were in front of the cushion. Soon, the class began. Ayaka had a disgusted look on her face. You could tell that she made a mistake coming here.

“Alright,” A boy said. “Now we left off where Megumi was fighting Kirito-” “Excuse me, I don’t have a book.” Ayaka exclaimed. “Oh, yes right… We do have extras… somewhere..” The boy became nervous and looked around the room. “Hanami! Give the manga to Ayaka.” “What?” Hanami replied. “Yeah, Hanami, I need a book.” Ayaka smirked. “It’s a manga. And no way-” Before she could finish, the boy came running and stole her limited edition MeguMegu Hero out from Hanami’s hand. “Hey!” “You told me you already read the entire franchise.” He said and gave the book to Ayaka. The group who was in a circle began reading to themselves. Well, everyone except Ayaka.

Hanami rolled her eyes and laid her head down on a desk until class ended. It was actually quite nice since the group didn’t finish before the bell rang. As Hanami got up, she tripped on the cornor of the couch. Hayate looked back and saw the falling flower. He tried to catch her but ended up tripping himself. Hanami fell atop of Hayate; atop of his lips. They met. Everyone in the room stopped and looked at them. Ayaka’s eyes widened,gripping her fists. When the two pulled away, they blushed a deep red and looked at different directions. “Um..” Hayate began. “I-I’m sorry!” She got up. Hayate did as well. “N-no, I’m sorry. How abo-” Before he could finish, Ayaka grabbed his hand. “Listen, that was totally uncalled for. How could you? Can’t you find someone else to kiss, or at least a thing? You purposely fell on Hayate, making everyone uncomfortable, including him. Don’t you know there’s a “no affection” rule at this school? Of course you don’t ‘cause you’ve never felt that before!” Ayaka shot at Hanami, who was frozen. She didn’t know what to do, whether run crying or just slowly leaving; all of the options ended with leaving. Hanami grabbed her stuff and walked out of the door. Hayate tried to form words, but she was already at the next corner. He looked down until Ayaka nugged his shoulder, smiling. They walked together to their science class.

Hanami couldn’t believe. How could Ayaka do that? It was so rude, yet it was true! She never even knew her dad and lately, her mom hasn’t even spoken to Hanami. Everything is beginning to fall apart. The only thing good she’ll have is her and Hayate’s accidental kiss, which will spread through the school once Ayaya opens her big mouth. Oh, it doesn’t matter. She won’t hear anyone’s chatter anymore. She’ll be gone soon, luckily.

The girl stopped in the hallway and layed her back against the wall. She slowly began to slid down and lower her head. She really needed some comfort. Hanami began to think of Ayaka’s words. Affection; you never felt it. Then she looked up with glassy eyes. Two students walked passed her, entering the closest classroom. The bell rang. She was late. As she got up, she pulled out her phone and pressed an SNS app. She started typing a message.

“Looking for a friend or two on LINE. Username is the same username I always use; Flower Girl.”

She pressed enter and looked at the message go up on her page. She just stood their look at the screen until a voice interrupted her.

“Late again, Miss. Hanami?” As she looked up, she saw Mr. Yamaguchi. She showed no expression. “Sorry, I’ll go.” She said walking passed the insulting teacher. The next scene began with a whistle being blown. The couch was explaining the rules while walking down a black line that separated the students. Some of them had big red balls in their hands. Hanami was standing in the front versus always staying in the back like she used to. “End my misery.” She stated. “With pleasure~” A familiar voice began to move closer to her. Ayaka was standing right before Hanami’s eyes. They looked at each other intensely. When the couch the blowed the whistle again, Ayaka threw her ball to Hanami which was too slow for Hanami’s dodge. Ayaka huffed and puffed and was about to blow Hanami’s existence away, out of her life.

The students kept throwing, dodging, and eventually getting out. There were only 5 left; coincidentally, Hanami and a few other boys faced Hayate and the redhead. “Why won’t you go down, you flimsy flower!” She once again threw a ball at Hanami, which was bounced away by the ball Hanami had. “You know what happens to a fire?” Hanami started. “It dies down!” As Hanami began throwing the ball, Ayaka was already beginning to go right. (Hanami’s left) The girl throwing the ball sensed this, and faked throwing the ball to the right to then suddenly, throwing the ball to the left where Ayaka was. It hit her stomach pretty hard, making Ayaka collapse. “Oh my god, Ayaka!” The whistle blowed. Hayate made his way to the girl on the ground, as well as other curious earthlings. Hanami just stood there, slowly making her way to the defeated girl. “Are you okay?” The couch asked. “I think I need to go to the nurse.” “How could you do that?” Hayate glared at Hanami. “I thought you of all people would be friendly and harmless!” He yelled. Hanami couldn’t move. Now she was the one uncomfortable. Was this repeating? “I-” “Hayate, take her to the nurse. Everybody, let’s play another round.” The couch gave orders to everyone. Hanami looked at Hayate carrying Ayaka like she was his bride. She quickly looked away after locking eyes with the demon herself. She was smirking. Ayaka faked it! She exclaimed in her mind. That little… ugh.

Hanami heard a ringing sound from her phone as she left the schoolground. When she opened to see the notification, her jaw dropped. It was an LINE request. A friend request. She opened the notif and the window popped up. “@Fukuda_19 wants to be your friend!” Hanami didn’t know what to do. If she swiped left, the friend request would be declined. However, if she swiped right… She thought and thought; this would be her first friend, but Hanami didn’t know if it was going to be a real friend. She finally decided, and swiped….

“ACCEPTED!” A bell rang from the phone. The screen changed to Hanami’s friend list, which before had 0. Now 1. Maybe this day didn’t end as badly as she would imagine. Now how would her first words be with this new friend?

My own SNS. Sorry, not much characters in this like I wanted.